Steam pressing iron and steam-supply mechanism therefor



Dec. 10, 1957 A. E. RElMERs ETAL STEAM PRESSING IRQN AND STEAM-SUPPLY MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 13. 1954 INVEN'ToRs -AzFfa t vinv/laws WALTER K. TVf/VDER lUnited States Patent O STEAM PRESSING IRON AND STEAM-SUPPLY MECHANISM THEREFOR Alfred E. Reimers, Clearbrook, and Walter K. Tavender and Leonard J. McCormack, Jr., Winchester, Va., as- Asignors to Reimers Electric Appliance Co., Inc., Clearbrook, Va., a corporation of New York Application September 13, 1954, Serial No. y455,511

5 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to improvements in electrically or gas heated steam pressing irons and steam-supply mechanism therefor.

Electrically heated steam irons during a pressing operation thereof discharge steam which is supplied thereto through a steam hose, pipe or like conduit from a suitable steam-supply source. Such` irons are highly eliicient when being so used and the steam in the supply conduit is flowing. Difliculty is met, however, when the iron is used only intermittently ywith periods of non-use or idling. For example, when an iron is thus idling and left on the stand with the supply valve closed and with steam pressure in the supply hose While no steam is llowing through r 2,815,593 Patented Dec. l0, 1957 ICC quently does not interfere with the pressing temperature nor with the temperature of the steam discharged.

Another object of our invention is to utilize in a steam-supply metallic connection to the iron having a conventional steam-supply passage a metallic bleeder member comprising a metallic tube having a small diameter bore or hole preferably leading from the steamsupply passage to atmospheric pressure. This small bore or hole is of a diameter that is less than .040" and is less than 16% of the steam passage which it bleeds and is preferably produced by utilizing in the side of the metallic steam-supply connection a relief tube member of suitable metal which is provided with such a small diameter hole.

We have found that by continuously draining or bleeding to the atmosphere a very small amount of water of condensation from the supply-hose connection or through the supply valve at the iron, and preferably through a metallic relief tube, the condensation of steam within the supply-hose is prevented from accumulating and this small amount of draining or bleeding does not in any way affect the temperature of the sole plate of the iron because upon the opening of the supplyvalve to discharge steam through the iron no rush of water enters the iron, but on the contrary the use of this draining or bleeding element will enable a perfectly dry steam to be produced even when the iron is heated to the low temperature of approximately 225 F. It is understood that other means are utilized to avoid condensation, as, for example, the cracking or leaving partly open of the supply-valve, but this expedient permits escape of too much steam r and is not practical because it is frequently forgotten by operation, the valve on the iron is opened to supply and discharge steam, the water condensed in the hose from the steam supply and gathered adjacent to the valve will be initially supplied to the iron and while some of such water will be immediately turned into steam in most cases there will be a surplus of such water above the quantity which can be turned into steam in the iron and this surplus will cool the iron and cause a water spotting to` result during such operation of the iron. p

It is desirable in electrically heated steam pressing irons to utilize an iron which discharges a large amount of steam. This is desirable for most industrial operations and requires a large ow through the iron and through the supply hose or conduit, and whensuch large discharge irons are used there is consequently` greater condensation when the iron is idling or not in use With the valve closed. f

In accordance with our invention, we prevent the accumulation of condensation of steam by the use of means for continuously draining water as the sameis condensed from steam in the steam supply hose or conduit and this continuous draining is accomplished through a bleeding connection with the steam supply at or near the iron or adjacent to the inlet valve of the steam iron, and in the preferred form of our invention such bleeding of the steam supply in the supply hose or conduit carries out of the steam supply hose a small amount of live steam with the condensed steam and we preferably combine with bleeding means a means for carrying the steam and water off through a supplemental tube or hose into a suitable Waste receptacle. The operation of bleeding the steam supply is thus carried on outside the iron `and condensation of steam into water in the supply hose ywhich is the feeding means to the iron is avoided and consethe operator; also evaporation inside the iron has been employed but a high degree of heat which would be at least 300 F. and sometimes as much as 400 F. would be necessary in order to enable a quick'drying of the condensed steam Within the hose and thus to avoid water spotting during an operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so' combined as to coact and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of an electrically heated steam pressing iron embodying my invention and having a steam-supply valve and a steam supply connection; i

Fig. 2 is a section through a metallicconnection between the supply hose and iron and showing our tubular bleeder member connected thereto as an independent fitting to such steam supply connection from which steam is passed to the valve of the iron; and

` Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the tubular bleeder member removed from the supply-hose connection and showing the bore therethrough of small diameter.

Referring now to these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, 10 is a conventional electrically heated steam pressing iron which is preferably of the type shown in patents to Walter K. Tavender, numbered 1,874,832 and 1,911,213 and embodies a suitable steam passage 11 that supplies steam to the other passages of the iron l0 not shown. In the embodiment of our invention shown, a exible steam supply-hose 12 of standard form which is connected at its receiving end to any suitable source of steam supply, not shown, is

- connected at its discharge end 12al to a metallic connection nected to a metallic pipe 13"l suitably mounted on thel iron and having its bore connected with passage 14 leading to the lead-passage 15 of the iron 10 which is provided with valve seat 15f controlled by valve stem 15a operated by a handle 15b pivoted intermediate its ends at 15 and connected at 15d to valve stem 15a, saidl handle having its outer manipulating end extending freely above the body of the valve and iron and spaced therefrom. lThe valve stern 15EL is normally retained iny closed position by a spring 15e extending between the valve body and said handle 15b. As shown, the valve stern 15a is seated on valve seat 15f positioned intermediate the conduits 14 and 15, and, when the valve stem is raised,v steam will be admitted to the conduit 15 and thence to the steam discharge passages 24 from which steam is discharged through the sole plate portiongltl of the iron 10.

, It will Vbe understood,- as hereinabove stated, that in devices of this character steam which is supplied through the standard h'ose 12 condenses in connection 13 and hose 12 and a considerable amount of water may thus, unless regulated as hereinafter stated, be gathered in said hose 12. Such ag'athering of water will occur when there is a relatively long period of idling of the iron and thereup'on,-when the valve 15 is opened, such condensed water will pass into the passages and at normal temperatures of the pressing iron will not be all converted into steam, and consequently if and when the iron is used after an idling period, water spotting of the material being ironed will result.

In accordance with our invention, accumulation of the condensation of water in the steam supply at the metallic connection 13 and the adjacent portion of the hose 12 is prevented, and in the preferred embodiment of our invention we provide a metallic bleeder tube or fitting having a small bore which is connected with the steam supply passage through the metallic connection 13. This connection 13 has a steam passage 16 and screw threads 17 and 18 at opposite ends for connection with the iron and with the metallic` connecting member 12a of the supply hose 12, and in the embodiment illustrated, we provide said metallic connection 13 intermediate the ends thereof with a screw-threaded bore 19 extending from the steam passage 16 to the outside surface thereof and insert into said metallic connecting member 13 a screw-threaded metallic bleeder tube 20 which is provided with a small bore 20a adapted to continuously bleed or permit the passage therethrough from the connection 13 and tube 12 of a very small amount of steam, which small amount of steam we have found to be suflicient to carry with it any condensation which would otherwise occur within the hose 12` and metallic connection 13.

In the embodiment illustrated, we have embodied in the metallic bleeder tube 20 a small bore or hole 20a of only .020 diameter and we preferably connect integrally with said` tube 20 an elbow portion 21 which is provided with asomewhat enlarged bore 21a, and said elbow portion 21 of said bleeder tube 19 is preferably connected to a rubber bleeder tube 22 which preferably extends in the same direction as the supply tube or hose and has a container 23 arranged beneath the end thereof for the purpose of catching and containing water which drips from said rubber tube 22.

k.In the embodiment shown, the metallic bleeder tube 19 comprises part of the tube 21 which is preferably formed of brass `and has a relatively small outside diameter of say one-eighth of an inch and is connected to the small rubber tube 22 by simply slipping said rubber tube over vthe elbow portion of the metallic bleeder tube 21 .for the purpose of leading water with some steam whichis .continuously blown out vof the connection 13 and which is, as above indicated, passed through the elbow portion 21 of the bleeder tube -member and its rubber lead tube 22 to the atmosphere or to a suitable water-drip 'contaper 21'.v

It will be understood, of course, that the bleeding of the steam supply might be accomplished in the passage 14 or in any suitable position in a steam supply passage where steam condensation accumulates.

In the preferred form of our invention illustrated, the hose connection 13 is, as above indicated, provided at opposite ends with screw-threads 17-18 so as to permit connection at one end to the metallic pipe 13EL and at the other end to a suitable connection 12a of the hose 12 and is provided intermediate its ends with a screw threaded bore 19a into which the screw threaded end 19 of the metallic bleeder member or tube is inserted.

It will be understood that this bleeder member construction completely eliminates the accumulation of condensed water in the tube 12 and connection 13 and also that the small flexible bleeder tube does not in any way interfere with the proper operation of the iron. Furthermore, said flexible lead tube 22 may, if desired, be suitably connected to the supply tube 12 so as to be carried therewith during operation of the iron.

As hereinabove stated the bore or hole 21 of the metallic bleeder tube 20 is .020' in diameter and this small b'ore comprises-a very small percentage, viz. eight (8) percent of the diameter of the steam passage or bore 16 through the supply connecting fitting 13 with which it -i-s' connected. Such bleeding, therefore, does not in its function of preventing condensation and spotting deleteriously affect the efficiency of the steam supply to the iron nor the economy of operation thereof.

The bleeding operation works at substantially atmospheric pressure. There is some back pressure due to the moving of water up through the outlet tube 22, and the discharge end of this tube 22 may, if desired, be immersed in water in the pail 23. The difference in pressure is the force which drains the water away from the iron and moves the same into the pail 23. We have found that the use of a bleeding bore 20- of larger diameter than .040" is impractical because it would be too wasteful of steam, and a bore ofless than .020" diameter would not provide a sufficient degree of bleeding to be practical.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A steam pressing iron and steam supply mechanism therefor comprising, in combination, an electricallyheated pressing iron provided with discharge passages for discharging during a pressing operation steam supplied from a suitable source of steam supply, a steam supply conduit comprising a flexible tube connected at one end with said source of steam supply and having its opposite end connected to and movable with the pressing iron during operation thereof, a steam-receiving passage in the pressing iron having a connection with the movable end of 'said flexible tube to receive and conduct to the discharge passages of said pressing iron steam received from said flexible tube, a supply-controlling valve in said iron arranged between said steam-receiving passage and said steam discharge passages, and steam-bleeding means located adjacent to the connection of the movable end of said steam supply conduit with said steam-receiving passage in th'e ir'on for continuously bleeding a small portion of the steam being fed through the steam-supply passage ofsaid steam-supply conduit to prevent accumulation of condensation thereof in said movable end of said steam-.supply conduit.

Y v2. A steam pressing iron and steam supply mechanism therefor as claimed in claim 1 in which the valve-controlled steam .supply conduit which comprises a flexible tube having one end movable with the pressing iron and provided at said `movable end with a metallic connection member movable with and connecting said flexible tube to said steam-receiving passage of the pressing iron, said metallic connection member having a main Asteams'upplypassage of relatively large diameter communicating with'the stea'masupply passage of said flexible steamsupply anadur, and said 'metauic connecting member also having @secondary bleeding passage of 'small diameter communicating with said main supply passage for bleeding steam passing through the end of the steamsupply passage connected with the pressing iron to prevent the accumulation of condensed steam Within said steam-supply conduit.

3. A steam pressing iron as claimed in claim 1 in which the steam-supply conduit is valve controlled by valve of the pressing iron and includes a exible tube and is provided with a metallic connection member movable with and connecting said exible tube with said steam-receiving passage of the pressing iron, said metallic connection member having a steam-supply passage communicating with the steamsupply passage of said steam-supply conduit, a steam bleeding metallic fitting member is provided and mounted in said metallic connection member for bleeding the steam-supply through the passage therein, said metallic tting member extending transversely through said metallic connection member and provided with a bore contacting at one end with the steam passage therein and at the opposite end being connected with the outer atmosphere.

4. A steam pressing iron and steam supply mechanism therefor comprising, in combination, an electricallyheated pressing iron provided with discharge passages for discharging during a pressing operation steam supplied from a suitable source of steam supply, a steamsupply conduit including a exible tube connected at one end with said source of steam supply and having its opposite end connected to and movable with the pressing iron during operation thereof, a steam-receiving passage in the pressing iron having a connection with the movable end of said flexible tube to receive and conduct to the discharge passages of said pressing iron steam received from said exible tube, a supply-controlling valve in said pressing iron arranged between said steam-receiving passage and said steam discharge passages, and steam-bleeding means located adjacent to the connection of the movable end of said steam-supply conduit with said steamreceiving passage in the pressing iron for continuously bleeding a small portion of the steam being fed through the steam-supply passage of said steam-supply conduit to prevent accumulation of condensation thereof in said steam-supply conduit, said steam-bleeding means comprising a metallic connection member having an axial steam-supply passage and provided at its opposite ends with screw-threaded connections to the exible conduit and to the pressing iron, said metallic connection member being provided intermediate said ends with a metallic fitting element having a small bore between .020" in diameter and .040 connected with the steam passage through said connection member for continuously bleeding a small amount of steam from said steam-supply passage and passing the same to the atmosphere.

5. A steam pressing iron and steam supply mechanism therefor as claimed in claim 4 in which the metallic tting element has at the inlet end thereof a small bore of approximately .020 in diameter and a larger bore at the outlet end and a ilexible hose is connected to the fitting element at the outlet end thereof and extends to a. water-drip container.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,401 Wimpenny Mar. 4, 1873 1,911,213 Tavender May 30, 1933 1,958,876 Wright May 15, 1934 

